Top 10: U.S. Forts

The idea of a fort is a strictly manly idea. Since man first emerged from his cave dwellings to venture out into the world, he has had something to protect and, thusly, he needed forts. In every conflict since time began, men have used forts as a central tenant of defense. Attack and repel, those with the best forts typically win, and those that fall short, well, we know what happens to them. Some famous U.S. forts were designed as prisons, but since those kept men in instead of out, they fall outside the spirit of our top 10 U.S. forts list.

When creating a rubric for great U.S. forts, a few key factors came into play. Foremost is the military historical significance of the fort. Who fought there, when and why? Secondly, is it worth a visit or should you just read about it? Lastly, is it a testament to architectural fortitude? The U.S. forts on this list are truly unique and useful fortifications that have stood the test of time.